Litha: Summer Solstice

21st June is midsummer (though the exact date does vary, anything from the 21st to the 24th June). The sun is at it's peak and the goddess is heavily pregnant "just as the earth is pregnant with the coming harvest".

It is the longest day of the year and after this day the sun will set a little earlier each day here on out.

Midsummer has long been a day of celebration and festival among many cultures throughout history. In India it was the main festival of the entire year. In ancient Rome it was known as Litha or Vestalia. In Wales it was referred to as Gathering Day and in Scotland, as Feill-Sheathain. To the Greeks it was couples day and to the ancient Gauls, feast of Epona.

The celebration of Midsummer's Eve was from ancient times linked to the summer solstice. People believed that mid-summer plants, especially Calendula, had miraculous healing powers and they therefore picked them on this night. Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again.

Midsummer is the druid festival of Alban Hefin. At Stonehenge the heelstone marks midsummer sunrise as viewed from the centre of the stone circle an ancient observation made of acknowledging the rising of the sun on midsummer.

As Christianity entered pagan areas, midsummer celebrations came to be often borrowed and transferred into new Christian holidays, often resulting in celebrations that mixed Christian traditions with traditions derived from pagan Midsummer festivities.

This is also the day of Heras or "Day of All Heras" which is a day for woman who have achieved full spiritual communion with the Great Goddess.

Because this is a Sabbat which glorifies the sun, and the sun is a symbol of protection, many pagans choose to make protective amulets in the week before the Sabbat that are later empowered over the midsummer balefire.

One such amulet made for protection whereby the eye is the bases of it's symbolism, is the South American 'God's Eye' with it's origins with the natives of that region.

Some people make a real art of these and one such artist is Jay Mohler. At his site he also gives a very detailed tutorial of how to make an eight sided Ojo de Dios. He also sell's his wonderful creations at Etsy.

I've also added some links to tutorials and videos so you can have a go at making a basic one on your own.

If you made sun wheels for Imbloc these can be displayed at midsummer too.

Traditionally people stayed up all night on Midsummer's Eve to welcome and watch the sunrise. Bonfires were lit on tops of hills, by holy wells, at places held sacred, to honour the fullness of the Sun.

Though not a fire festival since being one of lesser sabbats, because of its obvious association with the sun which burns, shed's light and purifies, it was common to have fire rituals and fire magick, with balefires still being prominent part of modern midsummer rites.

The old Norse word for balefire is 'biiken', and is still used today in reference to the midsummer fires.

Many wild herbs come to full maturity at midsummer and it is the traditional time for gathering magickal and medicinal plants to then dry and store for use at winter time. The druids would also gather sacred plants of midsummer at this time especially the most revered, mistletoe which they would cut with a golden sickle reserved especially for this purpose.

Lavender is also another midsummer favourite and vervain was also traditionally collected at midsummer just before dawn. Pine cones gather at midsummer were considered to be powerful amulets for protection, fertility as well as virility. Elderflowers are also at peak at midsummer.

If you fancy collecting some wild herbs ensure you have a good book for identifying as well as making sure it's not a protected plant as some wild plants and flowers in the UK are protected by law, but don't let that put you off, just have a good book with you so you know what you can and can't pick.

If you are a traditional pagan you may also want to use a boline knife to cut and gather your herbs. When drying them it's best to hang them where they're unlikely to be disturbed and allow them to dry for approximately thirty to ninety days, depending on the herb.

Fae are believed to be active at midsummer much like they are at beltaine, but faeries at midsummer are believed to be at the height of their power.

Driving children and animals around or over the midsummer balefire was thought to offer protection.

Herbs would also be worn to prevent a person being carried off by the faeries at this time. In England, dancing around a mulberry bush or tree was considered a potent faery protection, both at midsummer and yule. It is where the old children rhyme "Here we go round the mulberry bush" originates (this is something I remember singing as a child and of course had no idea of it's reference).

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

Another common practice at this time is to leave food out for the faerie folk. Milk, water, butter, honey, wine and bread are some of the more items left for them.

June is also the traditional month for weddings because it was considered unlucky to marry in the month of May since that is the month of the sacred marriage of the god and goddess at beltaine; that no mortal should marry during that time.

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Many modern marriages have their roots in the customs of pagan marriages including the old saying "tying the knot" as well as the traditional sharing of the cake, tossed rice and flowers all have their origins in fertility magick. Even the white dress equates the bride with the virgin goddess and the wedding ring is symbolic of the magick circle.

Divination is also done on this night as well as vision questing and prophetic dreams, as it is the power of the sun that allows humans to access the unseen worlds. St. Johns Wort would be placed under the pillow to induce prophetic dreams and mugwort is also potent being used in the same manner by the Celts.

Ideas for Your Altar
Oak leaves and mistletoe as well as an abundance of all the herbs, flowers and grasses to choose from that are so easily available at midsummer to add to your alter. Also candles that are in the colours of the sun the same is true of foods you eat and good herb for this would be saffron which makes for a lovely sunny cake.

Sources:
How to make Ojo de Dios or God's Eyes
Putting together your own 12-sided Ojo de Dios yarn mandala
Sabbats by Edain McCoy
The Pagan Book of Days
Midsummer - Wikipedia
Wheel of the Year - Wikipedia
Goddess & Greenman